ROTACOM Advanced

Prevon have also developed further modules of software that can be added to the "ROTACOM – Basic" software package, thus forming what is known as the "ROTACOM – Advanced" software package. This system, similarly to the "ROTACOM – Basic" system, will cater for stock control of all parts in the vertical carousel as well as for parts that are located outside of the carousel. The "ROTACOM – Advanced" software will keep an accurate account of all components held in the carousel, and will have the ability to keep a record of the location of each individual part, together with the respective quantity of each part. The stock status of each part can be requested on demand by keying in the appropriate part number or striking the part identification barcode with a barcode scanner.

Furthermore, a minimum stock holding and, if necessary, a maximum stock holding, of each part held in the carousel can be assigned to each component. "ROTACOM – Advanced" has the ability to generate a report which can also be printed out, if necessary, listing all those parts, the quantities of which have fallen below the minimum stock holding levels as set by the user.

"ROTACOM – Advanced" has the ability to be interfaced to a host computer system to receive picking slip details electronically via an interfacing link. This facility has many advantages, the most significant being the huge time saving achievable through minimisation of the very time consuming task of data entry via local keyboard and furthermore, the minimisation of keyboard entry errors which cause incorrect parts to be picked.

The data commonly entered at the time of order entry, together with relevant client information kept in the client data base, can be sent to the carousel's computer, allowing "ROTACOM – Advanced" to process the information on the specific order.

The picking of parts using this system can proceed in one of three ways:-

1. INDIVIDUAL PART PICK: Part numbers for all items are individually entered on the keyboard of the carousel computer system and sequentially picked.

2. INDIVIDUAL PICKING SLIP PICKING: Parts are picked by entering picking slip details on the keyboard of the carousel terminal, with each slip listing various parts with varying quantities. Once all of the picking slips are entered, "ROTACOM – Advanced" is asked to perform a "critical path analysis", this being the sortation for optimum or shortest route for rotation to take place. Upon completion of this sorting order, which only takes milliseconds, "ROTACOM – Advanced" is ready to access all of the picking slips, one at a time.

It will either choose the most suitable route, one that has been selected by the "critical path analysis" method to achieve the minimum rotation, or it can pick an operator-nominated picking slip selection. This picking sequence will continue until all picking slips are completed or until the operator places the picking routine temporarily on hold. "ROTACOM – Advanced" can perform an interrupt pick, which will enable the operator to pick an urgently required part, or perhaps, a whole picking slip that may have priority.

3. MULTIPLE PICKING SLIP PICKING: Parts are picked by entering all picking slip details on the keyboard of any terminal of the mainframe computer, with each slip requiring different parts with varying quantities. Once a picking slip or a batch of picking slips is entered and down-loaded to the carousel's computer, "ROTACOM – Advanced" is asked to perform a "critical path analysis", this being the optimum or shortest route for rotation to take place. Upon completion of this sorting order, which only takes milliseconds, the "ROTACOM – Advanced" is ready to access all of the picking slips. This time, however, the picking process is accomplished by the execution of a collection of picking slips, where a number of these are picked at the same time. Please note that this refined picking system can administer any number of picking slips at the same time. Most commonly, however, a quantity of 10 picking slips is processed simultaneously.

This picking sequence will continue until all picking slips are completed, or until the operator places the picking routine temporarily on hold.

Note that, as the picking slips are generated at order entry level during the working day, they are continuously sent to the carousel and received by "ROTACOM Advanced" via the interfacing link for processing. The picking slips are stored in a dedicated file resident on the hard drive of the computer control system.

Stock replenishment is performed by "ROTACOM Advanced" as follows:-

The restocking is most commonly done in reverse order to that of the picking order. This means that the parts are restocked into the carousel by either keying in the part number or striking the part identification barcode with a barcode scanner, if this option has been installed with the carousel.

The most common, and perhaps the most practical way, to re-stock the carousel(s) is by the use of the "ROTACOM Advanced" generated replenishment list, which is normally created by totalling all of the quantities of all picked parts for all of the picking slips that have been presented that day, or during a specific period.

Optional functions that can be performed by “ROTACOM Advanced”:

Picking quantity displayed in front of the specific part to be picked as well as quantity displayed on the monitor.
The system can be interfaced to label printers and office printers.
The system can be interfaced to electronic scales.
The system can be interfaced to barcode scanners.

Testimonials

At Regency Media we had a challenge in keeping our ever increasing library of audio and video masters secure and easily accessible.
We decided to purchase and install a large storage carousel due to the limited floor space available. (more…)